Growing Bolder Digital Digest | GB Insiders June 2022: Creativity

Audrey Phillips on

Creativity Poetry That Empowers

Top 5 Creative Design Apps For Adults Feed Your Creative Spirit

JUNE 2022 GROWING BOLDER / JUNE 202 2 DIGE S T

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“When you’re alone, you’re not alone, just push a few buttons and I see my 16 grandchildren and them growing up!”

Joan, age 89 GrandPad User

Enhancing the quality of life for older adults.

Call 800-704-9412 or visit GrandPad.net VIDEO & VOICE CALLING • EMAIL • PHOTOS • MUSIC • INTERNET • GAMES • AND MORE

GROWING BOLDER AND NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ASSOCIATION PRESENT

Fountain of Youth will change everything you thought you knew about aging. It’s the jolt of inspiration you need to make the rest of your life the best of your life.

WITH

MARC MIDDLETON

We’re all told the same debilitating lie that aging is an inevitable decline into disease and disability.

Fountain of Youth®, a new podcast from Growing Bolder in partnership with the National Senior Games Association, smashes the negative stereotypes of aging and delivers life-transforming lessons for us all.

Hosted by masters athlete, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and Growing Bolder CEO Marc Middleton, Fountain of Youth shares the inspiring stories of men and women of all ages, sizes, and abilities who are redefining what’s possible and living active, engaged lives into their 80s 90s, and 100s.

SUBSCRIBE NOW and learn the secrets to active aging! podcasts.apple.com/us open.spotify.com/show audible.com/pd

Or Your Favorite Podcast Listening Platform

Daily Stories Online Visit GrowingBolder.com daily for inspiring stories to help you start Growing Bolder

The Bold Start Get a daily dose of inspiration curated from our most popular social media posts.

Check Out Our TV Shows Check your local listings or watch new episodes of "Growing Bolder" and "What's Next!" at GrowingBolder.com/tv

Radio + Podcast Fast-paced, entertainment hour that will leave you excited about the possibilities in your life, now available on most podcasting platforms and GrowingBolder.com/radio-podcast.

D O N ’ T FO R G E T TO F I N D U S ON OUR SOCIAL CHANNELS Follow us @GrowingBolder

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Katie Styles PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jill Middleton EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS Lynne Mixson & Tim Killian

GROWING BOLDER PRESS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Marc Middleton GENERAL COUNSEL Michael Okaty, Foley & Lardner LLP PARTNER RELATIONS Sam Koubaissi

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

COMMENTS

Tricia Reilly Koch & Doro Bush Koch

Contact us via social media @GrowingBolder or email us at feedback@GrowingBolder.com

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contents.

June 2022

IN EVERY ISSUE 6

YOUR TAKE

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NOTE FROM THE CEO

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GROWING BOLDER WITH

10 ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING EXTRAORDINARY LIVES 12

LIFELONG LEARNING

Top 5 Creative Design Apps For Adults 14 RECIPE

Plant-Based Bowls CREATE 26 POETRY THAT EMPOWERS

Creating Moments Of Joy And Feelings Of Love 34 BOLD SOCIAL: CREATIVE EXPRESSION

Fascinating Folks Over 50 Share Their Creative Outlets 40 FEED YOUR CREATIVE SPIRIT

See Life As A Kaleidoscope Of Possibilities DEFY 18 CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

Women’s Sports Pioneers Reflect On The Progress Made & Life Before 24 BECKY LONERGAN

Walking Her Way Through The Villages 36 A CREATIVE MIND SHARING KNOWLEDGE

82-Year-Old Helps A Tech Company Get More Seniors Online 42 PUT THE FUN IN FUNDRAISER

Creative Ways To Make A Difference FINANCE 22 10 SIDE HUSTLES FOR ADULTS OVER 50

A Few Ways To Get Extra Money In Your Wallet 38 5 SECRETS TO THRIFT SHOPPING SUCCESS

Photos by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

Tips On How To Navigate Thrifting HEALTH 44 IS IT TIME FOR A TUNE-UP? TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH

Head to page 30 to read Audrey's story

June Is Men’s Health Month MASTERS SPORTS 21

GROWING BOLDER AT THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES

Recapping Our Time In Fort Lauderdale GROWING BOLDER / JUNE 202 2 DIGE S T

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YOURTAKE What's one thing you're really proud of but wouldn't put on your resume?

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"I was the only female Sales Manager for Schwan’s in Canada and USA!"

"I did the Edgewalk on the CNN tower in Toronto."

—Cathy K. K.

—Carole O.

"I’ve lost almost 80 pounds with diet and exercise since February."

"Completed a college level paralegal certificate program at 60!"

—Amy J. W.

—Darlene C.

"I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out in the same day!"

"I did fine art nude modeling for several years, started at 30 years old."

—Donna S. A.

—EM H.

"Climbing out of the dark abyss and feeling alive again."

"I make the best ever blue cheese ball in the known universe."

—Diane T.

—Janet K. K.

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Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

From the CEO

The theme of this month’s Growing Bolder Magazine is Creativity, one of the most important qualities to embrace as we age.

A long-term study published in the Journal of Aging and Health examined a variety of personality traits and concluded that only creativity confers significant life-extending benefits. Subjects who demonstrated above-average creativity enjoyed a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and a 12% decrease in mortality over an 18-year period.

Researchers believe that creative thinking activates a variety of neural networks within the brain. People who are creative are better problem solvers.

They’re better at adapting to circumstances and dealing with the challenges and functional limitations of aging.

The good news is that creativity is not a rare gift or magical process that only some have or can harness. Creativity is part of human nature. It is true that some are more connected to their creativity than others but for most, it’s never a lightning strike of ingenuity. It’s simply the by-product of fearlessness and persistence. It’s taking an action and then refining and editing. It’s the things you do every day when you cook, brainstorm at work, write an email, or pick out an outfit for a party. Creativity is looking from multiple perspectives until “suddenly” a solution appears. It’s a process that anyone can learn and benefit from.

“Creativity is part of human nature. It is true that some are more connected to their creativity than others but for most, it’s never a lightning strike of ingenuity.

It’s simply the by-product of fearlessness and persistence.”

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Catch new episodes now airing across Florida!

Hosted by award-winning broadcaster Marc Middleton, What’s Next! features a team of well-known Florida broadcasters and personalities, including Secily Wilson, Amy Sweezey, and Bill Shafer, all shining the spotlight on ordinary people living extraordinary lives.

What’s Next! is a jolt of inspiration that helps audiences of all ages believe that it’s never too late to pursue their passions and make a difference in their communities.

New episodes are now airing across Florida!

Check local listings and watch a full episode at

GrowingBolder.com/Whats-Next

GROWING BOLDER WITH

Joey Molland

75

Photo by Frazer Harrison / Staff via Getty Images

The band Badfinger is one of the most tragic stories in rock. Yet, their songs are still on the radio today. Between 1970 and 1972 the group had four consecutive hits. Their biggest, “Come and Get It,” was written for them by Paul McCartney, enticing the band to sign with the Beatles' new company, Apple Records. They were on top of the world.

But when Apple Records fell apart in 1973, Badfinger spiraled into legal, managerial, and financial struggles which cost them millions of dollars and led to the suicide of singer/ songwriter Pete Ham. Tom Evans would also take his life and drummer Mike Gibbons died in 2005, leaving Joey Molland as the group’s only surviving member.

Molland turned 75 this month and was anxious to visit with Growing Bolder, as he embarks upon a new endeavor that he hopes will keep the memory of Badfinger alive. At this stage of life Molland is upbeat, appreciative, energetic and optimistic; not just about the past, but the future.

“It’s fantastic that I’ve been able to work as a musician all my life,” he said. “I’m really happy that my voice is hanging in there, I still love to play guitar, and I’m really enjoying performing and just being around people.”

Some may be surprised by Molland’s outlook considering all the heartache he’s been through, including the band’s financial mismanagement, suicides, and the death of his wife in 2009. But Molland has had no choice but to take it all in stride. “Losing Kathy (who died suddenly after being married 39 years), that was rough,” he said.

“When I think about it, it all can still be painful; but I keep moving forward. I keep up with a lot of my old friends, my sons are all grown up and doing well and I have a lovely girlfriend, Mary, so my life is good.”

In fact, Molland is hopeful that it’s about to get even better. “Well, I met this chap, Mike Franklin of Solar Music, who is a promoter, a producer, a player, who’s worked with

legends like Jon Anderson of Yes and Robby Steinhardt of Kansas and he’s got some big ideas for me,” Molland said.

“We're hoping to go on tour next year to perform all those great Badfinger songs. I’ll tell a lot of great stories -- some will make people laugh, some cry, and some you just won’t believe. I'm really excited about it.”

Several of his stories are about the Beatles, particularly John Lennon and George Harrison. Molland played guitar on solo albums for both, including Harrison’s “The Concert for Bangladesh” and Lennon’s “Imagine.” Molland recounts how shocked his bandmates were when McCartney delivered “Come and Get It” to them. “He ordered us to play it exactly like it was. He said, ‘Don't screw around with it, no fiddly bits, no guitar licks. This is the way it goes.

Learn it. I'll come back in a week, I’ll produce it and I guarantee it will be your first hit record.’ “Yeah, and he was right on the button about it, wasn't he?”

Today at age 75, Molland still has a spark about him. He is pleasant, engaging and outgoing. He attributes it to coming through the many tough times and learning to live with gratitude. “Listen, I love spending time with the fans, talking about the old days, talking about music, and talking about this guy and that guy. I realize how lucky I am that people want to talk with me at all. I wish my bandmates were still around to feel the appreciation. They would have loved it. So, I’ll keep doing it for them, for me, and for the fans. The least I can do is enjoy my life and help the legacy of the band live on.”

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ORDINARY PEOPLE LIVING E XTR AORDINARY LIVES®

Debbie Petry

64

Debbie Petry had every reason not to believe. What does a 64-year-old know about video games? She can barely play them — how could she create one? Yet, that is what she set out to do.

“I wrote this story,” Petry said. “And I keep getting this nagging feeling that it is supposed to get out to kids all over the world.”

It is a story that just came to her one day, and would become the core of a new video game, The Guardians of Peace.

“It’s about a child fighting the evils of the world,” Petry explained. “Not just the outside evils, but also things inside us that we all struggle with: jealousy, self-doubt, and fear.”

The story behind The Guardians of Peace is one of empowerment, strength, and compassion. Petry felt most video games were too violent and that as teachers we must present a better way for our children. She could use her game to teach that instead of solving problems by fighting, shooting, and destroying, that patience, courage, and meditation work better.

“I want to teach children about inner strength,” she said. “They need to understand power doesn't come from a gun. It comes from inside of you.”

Petry knows how difficult these lessons can be to learn.

Her own daughter struggled with depression and addiction.

Exposure to violence only added to the tension and confusion.

“We went to countless professionals who tried all kinds of things that just weren’t working,” she said. “My daughter was in terrible pain but when she tried meditation,

“I want you to understand this about age, there is nothing that you cannot do if you believe in it. If you just believe in it.” energy healing and Qigong, it saved her life. I genuinely believe this can help.”

But simply creating a game like The Guardians of Peace wasn’t a guarantee anyone was ever going to play it.

Petry knew she was going to have to compete with all the other games using great graphics, strong characters, and a compelling story. A game-changing moment took place when a friend connected her with developer Bret Wright at Toolshed, LLC. He immediately understood the importance of her mission and agreed to use his skills to help fulfill it.

“Even though I wanted a teaching game, we agreed it would have to be cool and fun,” she said. “After two years of developing, The Guardians of Peace was created.”

Since its release it has been downloaded a million times and is now available on PlayStation and Xbox.

“Once I started this project I never stopped to look back,” she said. “There is so much more to do, but I am proud to be part of a team that is making a difference and helping parents and children all over the world.”

Another important lesson from Petry is that age did not deter her, nor did her lack of knowledge of the gaming industry. She describes herself as someone who gets confused using her phone. Yet, she had a message she believed in, and the tenacity to see it through. Her goal was to change lives, she did not expect to change her own.

“Here I was at 64 thinking I was going to be retired and fading away, but now everything is different,” she said. “I have found a new purpose; a new adventure and I am so energized. I thought I was headed towards an ending but instead I feel I have a whole new beginning.”

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LIFELONG LEARNING

Top 5 Creative Design Apps For Adults

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A 2021 study by Pew Research Center revealed how rapidly things have changed in this last decade alone. Older adults aren’t sitting on the sidelines as social technologies advance. Instead, they are the fastest-growing group of users jumping in on the fun with social media. → → → →

Social media presence among Americans 65+ quadrupled since 2010 83% of adults 50-64 have smartphones 61% of adults 65+ have smartphones Nearly half of all adults 50+ have a tablet

The worlds of photography, videography, art and creative design are now open for non-professionals to get their feet wet and enhance their online presence. Getting creative is a vital tool for healthy aging, so take out your phone, try some of our favorite apps and add some fresh content to your personal profile on Facebook, Instagram and more!

Photo by JLco - Ana Suanes via Getty Images

Thanks to our ever-evolving digital world, it’s now easier than ever before to get online and get creative. While tangible creative outlets like painting, playing an instrument, crafting and cooking are wonderful ways to let your imagination run wild, don’t sleep on the many apps that are easy to use and can spice up your photos, drawing and designs online.

1. Canva

Whether you want to share a favorite quote in a fun way, design a logo, create a meme, add variety to your Instagram post, create a printable poster, an infographic or more, Canva is a great place to get started. They have amassed thousands of professional templates and images to bring your best ideas to life. A step-by-step guided process makes it EASY to do, right from the palm of your hand! It’s free to use, but they also offer paid plans with vast amounts of tools for businesses and organizations.

2. A Color Story

Don’t just post a raw photo. Try downloading A Color Story, where you can easily edit and add effects onto your pictures with colors that pop! There are over 500 stackable filters that will make the colors in your photos come to life, plus you can use touch tools to remove unwanted objects with ease!

3. Procreate

The team at Procreate says “Art is for everyone.” This app is your own endless canvas, where you can draw and paint on a digital screen and bring your creations to life, without needing paint, brushes or an easel! Explore artwork by other users to get inspired, or simply start fresh and let your mind run free.

4. Splice

Have you wanted to edit your own videos, but are intimidated by programs made for professionally trained editors? The team at Splice says that you don’t need to be a pro, and amateurs can “create something spectacular in no time.” This app allows you to use your phone or tablet and edit together multiple video clips, trim parts of a video you don’t like, add music or visual effects to design your own movie! Gather up a few of your favorite clips from a recent family gathering and see how easy it is to create a condensed look at these memorable moments.

5. Paper

Ironically enough, the Paper app gives you digital “sheets” to make it easy to sketch, collage, paint, draw and journal right on your smartphone or tablet. It’s simple and intuitive, offering drawing tutorials and workbooks to help you sharpen your skills and “sketch with confidence.” You can pull in inspiration from anywhere and stack multiple photos and drawings of your own creation onto single collages with ease.

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Plant Based Bowls Root Your Diet In Plants For National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month

Incorporating plant-based meals into our diet is more than buying meat-substitute burger patties. In honor of June being fresh fruit & vegetable month, check out this handy way to build colorful, tasty, nutrient-rich plant-based meals from bottom to top.

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Incorporate Crunch

The crunch ingredients are the secret factor that take your bowls to the next level and feel “restaurant worthy.” These are worth adding to your cabinet staples.

Options: Sunflower seeds, chopped almonds, sesame seeds, pine nuts, hemp seeds

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Or Keep ‘Em Raw

Add more color, texture and nutrients with uncooked chopped veggies.

Options: Tomatoes, red onion, avocado, arugula, shredded carrots, cucumber

Roast Vegetables

Grab the baking pan and chop up your favorite veggies. Mix them in a bowl with a bit of EVOO, salt and pepper. Roast at 425 for 25-40 minutes, depending on your oven.

Options: Bell peppers, mushrooms, onions, eggplant, squash, zucchini

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Choose a Protein

Contrary to popular belief, a diverse collection of vegetable proteins provides you what your body requires. How do you think cows grow up so strong?

Options: Roasted tofu, black beans, kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, edamame

Meal prep can be a great way to save time during the week. Make a batch of rice or quinoa to store in the fridge for up to four days.

Options: Tricolor Quinoa, brown rice, pearl couscous, cauliflower rice, barley, pasta

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Photo by Jess Hanebury D’Amico

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Pick a Base

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“Reuniting with former teammates is amazing. It’s like a slumber party all over again. We’ll now stay connected forever."

Naomi Shedd, 60 2022 National Senior Games Competitor

FOR M ORE DAILY M EME S :

@GrowingBolder

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Coming Summer 2022 Growing Bolder At The National Senior Games Meet athletes competing in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and even 100+

Growing Bolder is excited to bring audiences across the country inside the 2022 National Senior Games!

Watch the record-breaking moments and witness the stereotype-smashing successes by thousands of athletes from 50 to over 100 years old! Meet the inspirational competitors who are defying expectations. Their stories will motivate you to get moving and join the health and wellbeing movement that’s changing the way we age.

It’s all coming this summer, in a 60-minute national television special. To find out where you can watch, stay tuned to GrowingBolder.com/NSGA for the latest programming information!

Women’s Sports Pioneers Reflect On The Progress Made & Life Before

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United States women’s national soccer team members celebrated a new landmark labor contract on May 19, 2022. It was newsworthy because it marked the first time the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to pay both the men’s and women’s teams equally for individual matches and tournament prize money.

Photo 1: NSGA/Brit Huckabay, Photo 2: Courtesy of Jo Dill, Photo 3: Richard Heathcote / Staff via Getty Images

Celebrating The 50th Anniversary of Title IX

“If you are not the master of your fate, someone else is.”

ALICE T YM

The decision came after six years of campaigning by members of the World Cup winning women’s team, but the lineage can be traced roughly 50 years back to another landmark decision: the passage of Title IX of the Civil Rights Act into law, and to the women who fought for decades for the opportunity and the right to compete.

On June 23, 1972 Title IX legislation became law, prohibiting any institution receiving federal funding from excluding students from participating in educational and athletic programs on the basis of sex. In February of 2022 Growing Bolder and the National Senior Games hosted an online panel discussion with several female masters athletes in their 70s, 80s and 90s about what life was like before Title IX. Kathrine Switzer was a 20-year-old college student when she registered to run the 1967 Boston Marathon, her first marathon. Early in the race, race director Jock Semple charged onto the course and tried to physically rip off her bib number and remove her from the competition.

Kathrine’s boyfriend pushed him out of the way and despite taunts from media to quit, Switzer finished the race.

“That's what everybody wanted me to do, was to quit.

So, I really, really had to finish,” Switzer said.

“I was only 20. I often say that when I first ran that Boston Marathon, I started it as a girl, but I finished it as a grown woman, because it gave me a real life plan. And that life plan was to somehow create opportunities for other women to run, and what a joy it was to spend the rest of my life really doing that.”

Switzer’s efforts helped open official registration for women to run in the Boston Marathon in 1972. In 1977 she established the Avon International Running Circuit — a global series of women’s races that grew to 400 events in 27 countries providing over one million women with the opportunity to run. The global advancement of women running around the world, along with tireless lobbying by Switzer and others, led to inclusion of the women’s marathon for the first time in the 1984 Olympic Games.

When Alice Tym went to the University of Florida in 1960 there was no women’s tennis team…so she started one, serving as coach, captain and number one player from 1960–1964. By creating the opportunity that didn’t exist for herself Tym’s tennis journey continued, playing internationally from 1964–1970, and later serving as a head coach of women’s tennis teams at the University of Tennessee–Chattanooga and Yale University.

“We didn't have any sponsorship or coaches, or help of any kind, but now they do. And thanks to Title IX, it's a law,” said Tym. “I fought hard to have a women’s tennis team at the University of Florida and my daughter was able to play soccer for Yale and work in athletic administration.

The harder you fight, the more you smile. I’m thrilled for my granddaughters and thrilled that my grandsons will have strong capable women in their lives. Everyone wins when opportunities are increased.”

Jo Dill grew up playing baseball, basketball and football in a neighborhood of boys. But when she entered school there were sports teams for the boys, but nothing for the girls. “We were fortunate enough to have one of our female teachers who said, ‘This isn't right. The girls need to play as well.’ So she got us started on that. So I got to play (basketball) in seventh and eighth grade. And then when we went to high school, we had basketball again, but that was it.”

“When I got to college, however, that was a different story. They had many sports for the boys and there was absolutely no varsity, no JV, freshman team, anything for girls,” Dill said. “We started an intramural program and got that going. It's not the same, but it was a chance for us to play. And I think we just somehow always found a way to play as best we could.”

After teaching health and physical education for over 35 years, today Dill is the coordinator for the Maine Senior Games. “My goal was to get more women involved…women that I know were athletes in high school and maybe didn't play anymore. I wanted to reach those people like myself that never had a chance once they left high school.”

Dill, Switzer and Tym are all still active athletes, and were in Ft. Lauderdale for the 2022 National Senior Games.

Switzer lit the cauldron to officially open the 2022 Games and Tym won gold medals in pickleball and table tennis.

Masters sports is a tremendous vehicle for a generation of women that weren’t allowed to compete in school and beyond. Today’s generation of girls and women will never experience that discrimination, and these early trailblazers in women’s athletics couldn’t be happier for the progress that’s been made. In fact, they are energized to continue efforts for more.

“I’m invigorated daily by friends who call and want me to fight for something,” Tym said. “I just like to fight. If I don’t, who will? If you are not the master of your fate, someone else is.”

“Every step forward creates a kind of tidal wave — both economically and socially,” Switzer said. “When I campaigned to get the women's marathon into the Olympics, it was as simple as creating running events that gave women the opportunity to try. Now, only 40 years later, people cannot remember a time when the women's marathon was not an Olympic event.”

“It shows anything is possible and that even the most stubborn human beings can eventually change,” added Switzer. “Cheers! Happy Anniversary to ALL of us!”

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“Your inside person doesn't age. Your inside person is soul, is heart ­– the old, the young, all the ages you've ever been.­” — Anne Lamott

FOR M ORE DAILY M EME S :

@GrowingBolder

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Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

PETER VON TABORSKY, 52

GROWIN G BO L DE R AT

The National Senior Games Our Growing Bolder team is still buzzing over our time spent at the National Senior Games in Ft. Lauderdale. Together, we produced the first live daily wrap-up shows in the 35-year history of the National Senior Games, the world’s largest multi-sport championship event for older adults.

Inspiration was everywhere as nearly 12,000 men and women ages 50-103 competed in 25 different sports. We didn’t just work long and rewarding days, our CEO Marc Middleton, found time to compete in four swimming events, winning all four and setting two new National Senior Games records.

Next month, the July issue of the Growing Bolder Digital Digest will feature our favorite stories and memories from the games. We’ll share stories about overcoming every kind of challenge imaginable. Stories about never giving up,

personal transformation, intergenerational connection, and much more. From pickleball to softball, basketball, track and field, archery, cornhole and everything in between, we covered it all. Find out from those who competed why the National Senior Games have become a health and wellbeing reunion for the ages with a powerful message we all need to hear. Check out next month’s Digital Digest and you’ll believe that it’s never too late to make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Also coming in July and August, a 60-minute national TV special, Growing Bolder at the National Senior Games.

We’re producing a fast-paced hour of inspiring video stories that prove that it’s not about age, it’s about attitude. Check out GrowingBolder.com for a list of networks and channels carrying Growing Bolder at the National Senior Games.

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10 Side Hustles For Adults Over 50

We could all use some extra money in our wallet. It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to add to your savings account, do a little more shopping or even plan your dream vacation.

More older adults are using free time to pick up a side hustle, or an activity that acts as an extra stream of income. Here are 10 of the best side hustles for adults over 50.

Tutoring Most older adults have years of expertise in careers that transition perfectly into teaching a particular subject. Whether it’s mathematics, science, or teaching music lessons, you won’t need to go through an extensive training process to start tutoring. You also get the satisfaction of giving back to the world by helping a younger person learn something new.

You can find tutoring jobs on well-known sites, such as Indeed, SimplyHired, Care.com and more. However, there are also virtual sites like Tutors. com, VarsityTutors.com, and Skooli. You can even help students in foreign countries learn to speak English with sites like VIPKid. Most tutors make anywhere from $10-$50 per hour and have the flexibility of choosing how much time they dedicate to work.

Transcribing Are you looking for a side hustle that doesn’t require social interaction? This job simply requires listening to audio recordings and converting them into written form. All you need are typing skills, a good set of headphones, and a laptop. Sites like Rev, Transcription Outsourcing, TranscribeMe, and GoTranscript make it easy to get started. These roles are flexible and typically pay from 30 cents to $1 per video minute of work, depending on the project.

Selling crafts For the creative makers of the world, you can set up an online shop to sell your crafts.

If you like to knit clothes, create Christmas ornaments, paint, or even make jewelry, check out Etsy. You can spend a few hours per week filling orders for your creations and shipping them to your customers for an easy addition to your income that satisfies your passion for creativity.

Content Writing Being a freelance content writer requires a creative mind and may also require some additional skills, but it’s a great way to fill your piggy bank. The obvious skills required for this work include experience and talent as a writer. But if writing is your thing and you have a knack for storytelling, there are thousands of jobs being posted every day. Most sites require a writing sample before you get approved; but once you’re in, the sky is the limit. Check out sites like TextBroker, FlexJobs, Upwork, ProBlogger, and iWriter. Rates depend on the length of the articles written, but you can expect anywhere from $20-$50 per written piece.

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Buying a vending machine Expect to spend from $1,000 to several thousand dollars, depending on if you want a new or used machine and how many extra technical features you select. Once you have your machine, the most important step is picking a location. The more foot traffic the better. You’ll need to approach the business owner or landlord to get permission to place your vending machine on site. This usually means agreeing to share a percentage of your profits and might require paying for the electricity to run the machine. Next, you need to properly stock your unit with cold beverages or snacks and ensure it always has the proper change for your customers. You can expect to earn anywhere from $30 to $100 every week from your vending machine. But remember, you’ll have to use some of that money to continue to buy the bags of chips or cold sodas.

Taking Surveys Taking surveys may be one of the easiest options available. However, it also brings in the least amount of extra cash. Most companies pay anywhere from 10 cents up to $2 per survey, depending on the length and the number of questions. You can download apps to your phone like Google Opinion Rewards or Surveys On The Go. There also are browser-based survey groups to take on your laptop, including Survey Junkie, Swagbucks, or InboxDollars.

Caring for pets For all the animal lovers out there, consider a side hustle in pet care. Thanks to companies like Wag, Rover, Fetch, and even Care.com, there are always plenty of jobs available to take care of our furry friends. People need everything from dog walkers to pet sitters and pet trainers. On average, dog walkers make between $10 and $15 an hour — not bad for getting to stretch your legs and enjoy the outdoors with a canine companion!

Ride-sharing Widely considered one of the most popular side hustles in the so-called “gig economy,” ride sharing is an easy way to turn your spare time into spare change. By downloading the Uber App or the Lyft App, you’ll pick up customers and shuttle them across town. These companies take a cut of your profits, of course, but you’ll still end up with anywhere from $5-$20 per trip, depending on the state where you live and the distance of the trip.

Renting your home Did you know that you could get paid while you’re on vacation? The next time you’re out of town, consider renting your home to someone else. The two most popular sites to use for real-estate rentals are Airbnb and Vrbo, where you set your own rate. For those who don’t mind extra company, you can also rent out extra space in your home while you are still living there.

Handyman

Thanks to websites like Nextdoor , Thumbtack, and SnagaJob, it’s never been easier to find odd jobs around your neighborhood. If you’re handy with tools, you can help your neighbors and make a few extra bucks. Some examples include: removing popcorn ceilings, putting up fences, replacing doors, painting, and changing locks. Just monitor the comments on the website you choose and pick which jobs you want to do.

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Becky Lonergan Walking Her Way Through The Villages

There she was, stuck in her house again.

The TV was on but there was nothing to watch. The pandemic was raging, the country was locked down so there was nowhere to go and nothing to do. Becky Lonergan could not take it anymore. It was time to get creative.

She opened the front door and took a step outside. She felt like an astronaut opening her space capsule and setting foot on another planet. She took a step. Then another. The sun warmed her face. A soft breeze touched her skin. “I’d almost forgotten what that felt like,” she said.

At first, the farthest thing from her mind was exercise. “I just wanted to get out there, see other people, experience all the beauty in the neighborhood.” She started walking 4,000 steps a day but that quickly became too easy. She needed a challenge, a goal, and a change of scenery.

“Most people who walk are happy to pick a route and stick to it,” she said. “But not only did I expand out of my neighborhood, I wanted to see if I could walk in front of every single house in The Villages. That just opened it up from an activity to more of a mission.”

The Villages, located near the center of Florida, is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. It has 65,000 homes, 32 square miles (about the area of Manhattan), over 100 miles of golf cart trails and an estimated population of 200,000, and it is still growing. At 10,000 steps a day, covering the entire area would not be easy, or quick.

Her husband pulled up a map and together they charted each day’s walk. The more areas Becky covered, the more she wanted to see.

“I saw things that were just incredible,” she said. “I saw funny street signs, met lots of dogs being walked, saw

the most interesting yard decorations, and chatted with the most interesting people. And each day I kept saying to myself, ‘I'm not going to be done with this. I'm going to keep going.’”

By April of 2021 Lonergan had walked by every house in the northern half of The Villages. Now she’s begun walking the southern half. Lonergan says when you become dedicated to a challenge, you’ll be surprised by how driven you can be to complete it. In fact, she has quite a streak going. “I haven't missed a single day in 667 days,” she said. “And that's hard to believe, even for me, because I wasn't really sure when I started this that I could take it to this point. But I sure did.”

She has come to believe that walking can be great activity for most people. Ten thousand steps a day sounds like a lot, but she says it doesn’t tire you out for the rest of the day and doesn’t take as long as you might think.

“Really, about an hour and a half,” she said. “That’s it. An hour and a half invested each day in your health, your wellbeing, your mindfulness. Doesn’t that sound worth it?”

Family medicine physician Dr Juan Yordan of Physician Partners knows it is. He’s seen the evidence behind the old saying ‘a body in motion stays in motion.’ “Everybody after a certain age will have some kind of arthritis in some kind of joint, so keeping mobility, keeping walking, that will keep that joint from getting stiff and getting worse,” Yordan said. Other benefits include increased cardiovascular and pulmonary function, lower cholesterol, better digestion as well as an improved mental state.

If you take a walk, make it a brisk one! A new study of genetic data of more than 400,000 adults has revealed a clear link between walking pace and slow aging through a genetic marker of biological age. A team of researchers based at Leicester in the UK have confirmed a causal link between walking pace and leucocyte telomere length (LTL) — an indicator of biological age.

The researchers estimate that a lifetime of brisk walking could slow aging and lead to the equivalent of 16 years younger biological age by midlife.

Dr. Yordan says the key is to start small.

“Don't think that if you have not done any kind of walking or exercise, you're going to run a 5k marathon the next day. It's just little steps. Just start with 10 minutes a walk or five minutes a walk, and then start adding to that.

I'm pretty sure you're going to notice that the same 10 minutes that you did two weeks ago, now you can do it, and you say, ‘You know what? I could keep on going maybe five minutes more.’ And then you start adding to that. The benefits that it takes through your entire body, it's incredible. That increase in metabolism and cardiovascular function is great.”

As for what’s next for Lonergan, she says she will continue her daily walks into the foreseeable future because she has never felt better. “I'm healthier both physically and mentally,” she said. “And I’m so grateful for my husband, my friends, my health and for every day that I get to live in this wonderful community.”

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Poetry That Empowers

Creating Moments Of Joy And Feelings Of Love The impact of creativity on people living with dementia is slowly transforming the way they are cared for.

Creative activities have been shown to not only prevent or delay the onset of dementia, but they can also reduce depression, agitation, and isolation by providing the power of choice and decision making.

We’ve all seen the videos of non-verbal adults with dementia awakening when music from their youth is played. Researchers say this dramatic transformation is the result of musical memories being stored in areas of the brain that are not affected. Watching films and reading books from their youth can have a similar, positive impact. For these reasons, it’s a good idea to ask your spouse or parents to make a playlist of their favorite music, films, and books. It can dramatically improve the quality of their life in the years ahead.

One area less studied but that is now producing impressive results is a poetry facilitation process developed by Molly Middleton Meyer, a memory care expert and advocate for those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

“The first time I did this, the caregivers stood there with their mouths open,” recalls Molly. “They saw people do and say things that they didn’t know were possible.”

We sat in on one of Molly’s facilitations to witness the impact firsthand. After warmly greeting each of her “resident poets,” the session takes flight. Molly says, “I love birds, don’t you?” “Oh yes!” answers one of the residents. “They can fly!” says another. “You know what …?” Molly continues, “I’ve got some items that remind me of birds. May I show them to you?”

With that, she begins pulling objects from a large bag and sharing each of the treasures she unveils. There’s a birdcage, a nest, a peacock feather, a stuffed toy owl

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and a bird with a long red tail. Everyone is encouraged to touch each one as Molly’s questions slowly awaken their imaginations. “Look closely at this nest. What is it made of?” “Sticks!” blurts one woman. “Exactly! Isn’t it amazing that they collect sticks and pieces of paper to make a safe home for their babies?”

This is an important aspect of Molly’s process, and one now endorsed by The Museums Association, which maintains that when people see, handle, or discuss objects in a museum’s collection, it triggers memories and stimulates conversation. Some forward-thinking museums now take collections into residential memory care settings and the results have been encouraging.

But handling and discussing objects is only the beginning of Molly’s process. She celebrates every comment and gains their trust by making it clear that there are no wrong answers. In many ways, wrong answers have defined their lives since first being diagnosed. Many people living with dementia are easily frustrated and quickly withdraw from fears of inadequacy or embarrassment.

“May I read you a poem about birds?” Molly asks. “It’s one of my favorites.” She reads a short poem and says, as if thinking the thought for the first time, “You know what? Let’s write our own poem about birds! I’ll help, but it will be your words, your poem. I know your poem will be even better than the one we just heard.” “I don’t think I’ve ever written a poem,” someone says. “I don’t want to,” adds another. “Let’s try,” encourages Molly.

“It’s fun and you’ll be amazed. It’s kind of magical.” Intrigued, they agree.

Molly is using sensory objects in combination with poetry recitation to stimulate long-forgotten memories and flashes of imagination. “I start with an idea and get the train moving, but you never really know where it’s going to end up,” she says with a smile. “We were doing a poem about the moon recently and someone thought I said ‘mule.’ That sparked a memory. So, we were off and running with a poem about mules. Sometimes, you just have to jump on board and enjoy the ride.”

Molly uses each object that she’s shared, displaying them on a table in front of her poets, as a springboard for creative expression. “What do you think this bird is doing? What is she drinking?” The answers come slowly at first, but Molly waits patiently, encouraging, directing, and inspiring.

“Good word! Oh, that’s interesting! I love that!” As she prompts, she

records all the words, phrases, and even gestures to construct a poem on the spot. In just a couple of moments, without so much as a slight pause, she announces: “I think you’ve written a poem! May I read it to you? These are your words, your poem, and your title.”

“Beautiful,” says one group member. “We did that! “Read it Again!” “I heard my word!” the others offer excitedly. The process continues and several other poems are created.

Molly holds the attention of a group in the advanced stages of the disease, for an hour. That’s not an easy thing to do. More importantly, she has given them a sense of pride and satisfaction. “That was really great,” says one man who hasn’t spoken in weeks. They pose for a group picture and slowly leave the room, smiling. One man asks Molly for a dance, and she accepts. “I love to dance almost as much as I love writing poems.”

The executive director of one of the nation’s most progressive memory-care centers observed the entire session. “They were nervous at first because many recognize their limitations and they didn’t know what to expect,” she says. “They learned right away that there were no wrong answers. They were so engaged; they loved the fact that Molly listened to them and that they were 100% successful in what they did. They were thrilled.”

Molly formats and types the poems and gives them to the care centers, where they’re displayed in the residents’ rooms, highlighted in newsletters, and shared with family members. “I try to think like a daughter,” she says. “When residents start telling stories, I write them down to share with their families. One of my poets named Barbara was nearly non-verbal. I noticed her smiling with a beautiful, far-away look and asked what she was thinking about. ‘The beach,’ she answered. ‘My sweet escape.’”

Barbara died just days later, and Molly went to her funeral. “I told her daughter, ‘I loved your mother. Do you know what were her last words to me?

‘The beach, my sweet escape.’” Barbara’s daughter was moved to tears because she and her mother had enjoyed many wonderful beach getaways. “It was comforting to know that even in her final days, her mother was still connected in a deep and meaningful way to their times together.”

Molly lost both of her parents to Alzheimer’s in 2011 and 2012. “I became increasingly frustrated with much of their therapy, which I came to believe only dehumanizes those for whom so much is already being lost.” She says, “I was determined to find a way to stimulate their memories and spark their creativity in an engaging, dignifying way.”

Molly has found purpose in her own pain and says her work is a way of honoring her mother and father. “I look in their faces and see my mom and my dad,” she says. “I meet the most amazing people. It’s such a gift to only know them now. I don’t know them as people who have lost something. I know them as people who are hungry for stimulation, hungry for fun and hungry for love.”

Molly is helping lead a long overdue transformation among those who are caring for people living with Alzheimer’s. It’s no longer about simply keeping them safe. We’ve learned that those in even the most advanced stages of dementia can experience love and joy. And it’s our obligation, our honor, our privilege to help them experience both. “Everybody says they’re going away, and they are,” Molly says. “You can’t pull them back. You can only go with them. Live in the moment with them and make that moment as joyous as possible. Yes, your relationship changes, but you still have the power to bring joy, meaning, and love to their lives. Even those who no longer recognize their family can still be happy.

They can still have a quality of life.”

Alive A bluebird takes a sip of clean, fresh rainwater, enjoys a quick bath.

Splashing!

Flapping!

He shakes the water from his feathers, feels alive.

Molly Middleton Meyer travels nationally to conduct facilitations, workshops, and training programs.

She is also available for speaking engagements. For more information on Mind’s Eye Poetry visit mindseyepoetry.com.

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"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow."

FOR M ORE DAILY M EME S :

@GrowingBolder

Photo by Carol Yepes via Getty Images

— Audrey Hepburn

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Learn more about Darlyn at darlynfinchkuhn.com.

The Visit

BY DA RLYN FINCH KUHN Dockside to check the bait trap, we caught instead an aggregation of five bolder manatees lolling in muddy blue water under the Florida sun on a cloudless day.

We, who constantly bounce from thing to thing, stood transfixed, mesmerized by the length, the breadth, the huff and puff of the propeller-scarred sea cows and their growing calves.

Here a fin, there a fluke, a whiskered snout exhaling extravagantly with exasperation, or joy — who could tell, and what did it matter?

Our hearts rolled with them, until the last light left.

Collie Blake of Miramar, FL was the winner in the Spoken Word category. To see and hear her poem as well as the other finalists, visit GrowingBolder.com/poetryslam.

inch Kuhn ln F

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Growing Bolder partnered with Florida Blue Medicare to host the Bold Poets Society Poetry Slam. Florida poets entered in both the spoken word and written poetry categories. Darlyn Finch Kuhn of Jacksonville, FL captured first place for written poetry for her poem, The Visit.

Photos by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

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Tragedy To Triumph The Personal Transformation Of Audrey Phillips

When Audrey Phillips was 33, a phone call from her father began a decade long descent into darkness.

“Mom hasn’t been home since yesterday,” he said.

A day later, Lola Mae Toombs body was discovered in the woods north of Panama City, Florida. She and an employee in her consignment clothing shop had been abducted and murdered in a robbery. Their 22-year-old killer was later captured in an Atlanta area hotel and is now serving back-to-back life sentences.

Traumatized, Phillips turned to meditation and medication. She tried yoga and multiple forms of therapy in an effort to ease the pain and silence the screams. “No matter what I tried, I was unable to let go and move on. I couldn’t get past the pain and trauma.”

More than 10 years later, in 2000, Phillips visited an artist friend in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “We rented a space and I started drawing for the first time in years,” she recalls. “It blew me wide open.” Almost immediately, horrific images of the killer’s face appeared on the paper.

One version after another. The act of artistic creation was finally exorcising the demons that had been haunting Phillips for a decade.

Phillips’ mother understood her deep connection to art before she did. “When I went to my mom’s funeral, I saw her best friend from when I was 2 years old. The first thing she said to me was, ‘Please tell me you’re still an artist. Your mother recognized your talent immediately. She gave you crayons and paper and set you on the floor.

You didn’t need a babysitter. You would draw for hours, totally engaged, completely engrossed.’”

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At her mother’s encouragement, Audrey earned a BA in fine art from the University of Florida. “But I was drawn to graphic design because it’s a more marketable skill and I wanted to be self-sufficient.” She worked for a decade as creative director at a major daily newspaper before leaving to start her own design business. The pursuit of fine art was a distant memory until tragedy struck.

As Phillips continued drawing and painting, the horrific images began to disappear, and she began to heal. The process of painting reconnected her with herself, her love of nature and most importantly with her mother. She was finally able to remember the love they shared without experiencing the overwhelming pain of her murder.

“Mine is a story of transformation,” she says, “I’ll never forget sitting on a park bench with my dad and making the decision to not let the dark side consume us. We weren’t going to look for revenge. We were going to move forward from a place of love. It’s hard. It took many, many years to get there.”

Phillips discovered abstract art 18 years ago and has never looked back because it’s her pathway to looking inside. “What I immediately loved about abstraction is that there are no boundaries. You’re drawing from an internal source. You’re not looking at something and recreating it or even being inspired by it. When you get into a flow state, you’re painting emotions. It’s not something from the physical world. It’s from a different place. It’s from what’s inside you. Once you get into flow, the process of painting invites you to stay there. I look at my paintings and think, ‘Where did that come from?’ It’s a deep and magnificent mystery.”

For many years, Phillips couldn’t talk about her mother’s murder. It was art that helped her pass from the dark into the light. It was creativity that authored her transformation.

“We’re all going through a transformation,” she says.

“We’re at this point in life that we’re looking forward, but the calendar doesn’t keep going. It stops. There’s a finite amount of time left, and we have a choice to make. Are we going to be small and fall into that fear category or are we going to open up and live bigger and bolder?”

“I’m grateful to be a painter because a white canvas is a never-ending invitation to evolve. Just as with life, you make a mistake. You hit a dead end. You get frustrated. You find your way forward. All of the challenges of life present themselves on the canvas. When you look at art, you get a glimpse into someone’s heart, into their soul.”

Audrey Phillips is a fine artist. Her paintings are coveted by galleries, museums and collectors worldwide. They reflect her love of nature and her mastery of composition and color. Their beauty belies the once unspeakable tragedy she suffered and the trauma she endured on her road to discovery and personal transformation. Her pain and suffering, once reflected in her art, have been defeated by her art.

“My mom was my greatest advocate,” she says. “I still feel her around me sometimes. This is what she would have wanted.”

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What I immediately loved about abstraction is that there are no boundaries. You’re drawing from an internal source.

You’re not looking at something and recreating it or even being inspired by it.

When you get into a flow state, you’re painting emotions.

It’s not something from the physical world. It’s from a different place. It’s from what’s inside you. Once you get into flow, the process of painting invites you to stay there. I look at my paintings and think, ‘Where did that come from?’ It’s a deep and magnificent mystery.

“

AU D R E Y P H I L L I P S

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Bold Social: Creative Expression Fascinating Folks Over 50 Share Their Creative Outlets

Creative expression is liberating, satisfying, and enhances our quality of life. It’s all about figuring out who we are and what we want to say and sharing it with the world in our own unique way.

From fashion to photography to fitness, these fascinating folks over 50 are sharing their chosen creative outlets with their online communities.

abuelitas_paintings Creative Expression: Painting Dona Lupita (aka Abuelita)’s abstract paintings are bold and beautiful. Seeing her create them is absolutely fascinating. Watching the colors creep out onto the clean canvas to form a one-of-a-kind painting is almost therapeutic. The 90+ artist’s smile as she works on each piece makes it clear she finds real joy in what she does.

Styleafter50 Creative Expression: Fashion Husband and wife duo Andy Poupart & Michèle Free bring elegance to a new level.

During the pandemic, they started a series called “Formal Friday,” proving you don’t need a reason to get glam together. Pop a bottle and scroll through their fashion-forward feed.

Styleafter50

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Illustration by RLT_Images via Getty Images/ Photos Courtesy of Instagram

abuelitas_paintings

Do you follow any bold influencers? Share your favorites with us at feedback@growingbolder.com.

BrunchwithBabs Creative Expression: Food Somehow, cooking seems less intimidating and a lot more fun when the exuberant Babs is around. Find out how to serve sandwiches to a crowd, boil eggs so the shells come right off and make the best one-pot pasta. Best of all, Babs regularly shares her “Slice of Peace” in which she passes on the wisdom she’s gained in her 70+ years on Earth.

BrunchwithBabs

Nedskee Creative Expression: Photography You'd think being legally blind would disqualify one from excelling in photography.

That hasn’t stopped Ted Tahquechi from capturing breathtaking views from land to sea. He’s a travel lover who provides not just the views for all the places he travels, but tips and tricks for the impaired as well.

Nedskee

RetirementHouse Creative Expression: Humor Who says Tiktok is just for kids? The residents of RetirementHouse — Rose, Curtis, Mabel, Eugene, Bubbe, and Larry — tickle your funny bone by jumping on trends, making parody videos and dancing all over the house. Beware, there is some adult-language in some videos but it’s all part of the fun.

RetirementHouse

Dianarilov Creative Expression: Yoga Diana Rilov is on a very Zen mission to prove that yoga can be practiced by anyone, anywhere, at any age. Sometimes filming from even the smallest spaces, like her corridor, the 75-year-old proves age doesn’t define your mobility. She encourages her followers to “Keep exploring what is difficult and scary, and you might be surprised and fall in love!”

Dianarilov

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A Creative Mind Sharing Knowledge 82-Year-Old Helps A Tech Company Get More Seniors Online

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The landscape of activities to help our minds flourish and our passions thrive is growing every day. One man who has crafted a life around a love of arts and sciences is Richard Thill.

Now 82-years-old, Thill is spreading his creative wings as far as they can go. He plays clarinet in a jazz band.

He spends weekends competing in dragon boat races. He keeps bees and is a master gardener. He’s currently learning Ukrainian, in the hopes of taking in refugees displaced by the war with Russia. Above all that, he’s making a difference in the world as an advisor to a tech company, GrandPad, helping to advance products to make it easier for seniors to get online and connect with loved ones.

“I think life is beautiful and you just have to keep thinking and learning and moving forward.”

RICHARD THILL

Thill describes himself as a “people person” who loves to help others. After serving in the Air Force where he was stationed stateside during the Vietnam War, he was originally on a path to become an engineer. Thill decided to make a change and become a pediatric dentist, all because he yearned for interpersonal connection.

He practiced dentistry for more than 50 years before retiring in 2020 due to the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on his business. But Thill wasn’t done helping others. Instead, he found a way to share his gifts with the world as a “Grand Advisor” with GrandPad. This unique technology company has created a tablet that leans on the opinions of their “Grand Advisors” like Thill, designing a product alongside seniors to make a product specifically for other seniors to use.

“That's the reason I'm still able to and wish to be an advisor — because it's a tool that elderly can communicate with other people,” Thill explained. “[CEO Scott Lien] would call me and say ‘Hey, what about this or that?’ I’d say okay and happy to do whatever I can to help the GrandPad be better. I used to go to nursing homes, and the hardest part is seeing people just sitting there. You know, they’re just isolated.

The GrandPad really brings them forward.”

While Thill is enthralled by the one-touch buttons to get online, the secure network that keeps out scammers, and the easy-to-use applications like the camera and the games to stay mentally sharp, what really feeds this musician’s soul is the music and radio functions.

“Music to me is life. It’s relaxing. It’s invigorating. Without music, you’re pretty much dead.”

The jazz clarinet player even recalled one of his favorite pieces of advice he gave the GrandPad team early on as an advisor.

“They were able to load on music that my father hadn’t heard before, some of the big bands in the 1920’s that he personally knew.

We had so many songs on there, I had to call up Scott and tell him, ‘Hey put more storage space on so people can have more songs!’”

Spreading A Message Of Family Connection Thill lights up at the chance to talk about his late father, Elmer. He laughs about his sense of humor and his dad’s desire to be around people (he even used to hit the “help” button on his GrandPad just to ask the representatives how their day was going).

Thill eagerly expresses how impressed he was that his father still drove into his 100s and maintained an active real estate license until he passed away, even posthumously earning a commission on a sale!

He'll beam telling you that his father built the house with his bare hands that Richard lives in still to this day. It’s been nearly two years since Elmer passed, but Richard says he lived life to the fullest in all his 106 years of life. Thill’s thankful for GrandPad because it allowed him to make priceless memories with his dad.

“It definitely brought us together. We could communicate with each other,” Thill said. “My nephews and nieces could show my Dad what their homes looked like, what their children looked like and all the rest.”

“His main hobby was tracking the market,” Thill added with a laugh. “The GrandPad gave him access to the internet, which allowed him to see the markets. A lot of times he would beat his broker, you know? They would have contests for lunch, and he won many lunches.”

Richard is keeping Elmer’s flame of life alive. Above all, he says his dad was a people-person, and now he’s doing his best to get more GrandPads in the hands of older adults who need them to communicate, just like his father did.

“Technology is a challenge, you know? Even myself now, constantly texting and messaging is difficult on [smart phones.]

When you hand somebody a computer, an older person reacts, ‘I don't want to be involved with it.’ But I say, ‘No, the GrandPad is simple. Just push a button here and there. If you need some help, push the help button and you can start communicating with real people.’ They don't realize how simple it really is until they use it.”

Thill guesses he has at least another 25 years ahead. He still takes his truck out with his GrandPad in tow so he can always reach his family and friends. He’s still looking for chances to play his clarinet in his jazz band or get out on the water with his dragon boat team. He’s constantly finding new ways to learn and is sharing his knowledge with the world.

“I think life is beautiful and you just have to keep thinking and learning and moving forward,” Thill said. “Be involved with people.

Don't isolate yourself, and don't pass up a challenge. I pick up another language, make a few more friends, pick up another instrument. We are social people, so we need to be with one another and use any tools that'll keep us with one another.”

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Photo by Mike Dunn for Growing Bolder

5 Secrets To Thrift Shopping Success

You have heard all about supply chain problems creating shortages. Department store prices are sky high and discount store shelves are bare. What can you do? There is one type of shopping where the inventory is stacked, and the prices are low: thrift shopping. Just Google “thrift store” and you will find there are more shops located close by than you ever realized and with good reason. They have bargains.

Why Thrift Shop?

Resale has become a multi-billion dollar a year industry. According to the National Association of Resale Professionals there are currently more than 25,000 resale, consignment and not-for-profit resale shops in the United States.

A transformation is taking place that has elevated thrifting from something strictly aimed at the economically disadvantaged to something rising in popularity with the socially and environmentally aware middle class. Whatever stigma that may have been associated with thrifting has all but dissipated. Fashion influencers like Emma Chamberlain have helped rebranded thrifting as a culturally popular aesthetic. Others see it as an environmentally sustainable way to find what you need at a fraction of the cost of a department store.

Who Thrift Shops?

This may surprise you, but it is your kids and grandkids who are becoming the most ardent thrifters. We understand that to you, what thrift stores stock are secondhand items, but to millennials they are considered vintage.

The next time you visit, don’t be surprised to find yourself sifting through a rack of clothes, elbow to elbow with Gen Z and Millennials. Remember, it is the Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, whose lack of interest has all but killed off shopping malls and department stores. To them, thrifting is the socially aware thing to do.

And Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is the first generation to grow up with online shopping and social media. To them, thrift stores represent sustainability, affordability and creativity. Thrifting allows them all to shop within their budgets while being environmentally conscious.

But not to worry, you will still also see plenty of people our age as well. 38% of Baby Boomers surveyed responded that they shop at thrift stores. The pandemic and nationwide lockdown created widespread economic hardships, which pushed many older adults to find ways to stretch their income.

And there is another reason for the upswing in thrift store popularity as well — social connections.

What You’ll Get What is it that keeps shoppers coming back repeatedly? According to Patti Clark, publisher of The Happy Thrifter Newspaper in Tampa, Florida, the answer is simple; it is all about the thrill of the hunt.

“For some it is about finding bargains,” she explained to Growing Bolder.

“But for most of us, it’s about the excitement of finding things we haven’t seen in years, something that reminds us of our childhood.”

Clark said this creates a special connection between shoppers and allows those who start out as strangers to quickly engage in heartfelt conversations as their memories are sparked by the different things they find.

“So really, to me, thrifting creates this amazing social connection,” said Clark. “I’ve made the most wonderful friends, many of them half my age. It’s like my family of thrifter friends.”

What You’ll Find Do not think that because you have seen one store you have seen them all. Each is different, eclectic, and ever changing. Some specialize in certain types of items, clothing, furniture, collectibles, toys and more. Some stock whatever they can.

Some support different causes. It is well worth your while to search online to discover all the stores in your area and see which cater to your specific interests.

5 Tips for Thrift Shopping 1. Know Before You Go What shops are nearby? What are their specialties? What causes do they support? A quick search on the internet can save you lots of time and effort.

2. Make a Plan Know what you are looking for before you go, it can save you hours of browsing. Set a budget so you are not tempted to impulse buy. Get the feel of the places you visit and jot down some notes for future reference.

3. Focus It’s fine to give a shop the onceover but try not to be too distracted by all the things you see that you might like to have! Remember, you have a goal in mind and if you let yourself wander you could easily find you have shopped the day away!

4. Dress for Success Some shops do not have a fitting room so here is a helpful tip — wear something you can put clothes on over the top of. This will give you that extra confidence as many do not allow returns.

5. See How Low Can They Go If that price does not seem right to you, do not hesitate to negotiate. The more respectful and friendlier you are, the more successful you can be.

And it never hurts to always say hello to the workers. If they see you are a regular, they may be more inclined to allow a discount.

Above everything else, be sure to look at thrifting as an adventure and an interesting experience. Right now, the resale community is thriving.

Check it out. You never know what you will find. This is the perfect time to see what is out there.

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Feed Your Creative Spirit See Life As A Kaleidoscope Of Possibilities Doro Bush Koch & Tricia Reilly Koch

Growing Bolder contributors Doro Bush Koch and Tricia Reilly Koch are sisters-in-law who founded the wellness company BB&R, Bright, Bold and Real over a decade and a half ago with a very clear goal: to share with others what they’ve learned about mindfulness and holistic living with the intention that everyone begin to live their best life. Learn more about their retreats, workshops, courses and popular Health Gig podcast at bbrconsulting.us.

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Illustration by Vivali via Getty Images

Anything that keeps us curious keeps us young. Whenever we arrange things in a way that strikes us as beautiful or interesting, we are being creative. Making space for creativity keeps our minds active and better able to consider possibilities and combinations that make life interesting!

Many people think of creativity as exclusively in the domain of the arts: writing, music, performance, visual art.

We love to explore our creativity in other ways, too. One place is in the kitchen. When we first started on our wellness journeys, we looked for ways to creatively crowd in healthy ingredients and crowd out unhealthy ingredients, for ourselves and for our young children.

Now that our kids are grown and we know more about the benefits of herbs and spices and have become familiar with vegetables we hadn’t even heard of in our 20s, we both love trying out new combinations of flavors. It’s fun to play with ingredients, adding something new to a tried and true recipe or combining two dishes from different cuisines and enjoying how they complement one another.

Another place we express our creativity is in the garden. We’ve found ways to mix in edibles with greenery.

We’re also enjoying experimenting with color and texture and learning about incorporating more sustainable landscaping techniques.

A creative spirit helps us stay open to new possibilities and inspires us to challenge ourselves. Children don’t need to be taught to be creative. They simply delight in making up their own ways to do things! If we can tap into this childlike spirit — throwing off what we’ve learned and setting out to make new discoveries — we will have a richer and possibly even longer life.

Another benefit to creative pursuits is that they offer some of the benefits of mindfulness exercises. When you are fully immersed in a creative act, you are present in the moment. Sitting meditation can reduce stress and sharpen the mind, but it is not for everyone. Some people are more able to tune out the world and get grounded by walking meditation

and by doing things like writing, drawing or making music.

Doro’s brother, former president George W. Bush, finds his mindfulness practice with his paintbrush and a canvas. He says that three hours in the studio feels like five minutes because he’s so fully in the flow of creativity.

It isn’t necessary to wait for inspiration to strike in order to cultivate a creative practice. Mary Oliver talks in her book A Poetry Handbook about showing up each day with patience, attentiveness and trust. In her essay “Of Power and Time,” a musing on the creative life, she says that creative work requires loyalty and the “the work itself is the adventure.” If we set the intention to explore and be curious, anything is possible.

Joy can be found even in seemingly small or even silly creative pursuits. Bullet journaling has users adorn their planners, to create decorations and illustrations around their daily activities. The use of color alone can shift our mindset. Doro’s mother, Barbara Bush, loved Keds. She had multiple pairs and would frequently wear two sneakers of different styles: two different colors, or one solid and the other patterned.

Anything that takes us out of our routine activates our brain in novel ways, so we see life as a kaleidoscope of possibilities. Pursue any activity with a spirit of play, and you’re going to have fun!

5 Creativity Prompts Getting outdoors in nature is a great way to stoke your creativity. Next time you go for a walk, try one of these strategies: →

Look in a different direction than is your usual habit: Ɂ Up: searching for birds in the trees or on wires,

looking for shapes in the clouds Ɂ Down: noticing all the greenery in the cracks of

the sidewalk, insects, pollen and leaves Ɂ Sideways: investigate houses and imagine

fictional stories about their past, present or future

→

Make a mental list (or an actual list!) of all the different colors you see and sounds you hear. Be as specific as your vocabulary allows! Ɂ Bonus activity: When you get back home, try

writing a poem or a short story using some of

these words

→ →

Look for five items of different shapes and textures (pinecone, blossom, rock, etc) to place on your table as a centerpiece Pick up three sets of several items of similar shape/ size (pebbles, leaves, twigs) and arrange them in a pattern to make a nature mandala GROWING BOLDER / JUNE 202 2 DIGE S T

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Put The Fun In Fundraiser Creative Ways To Make A Difference Jess Hanebury D’Amico

If you’re like anyone that I’ve ever met, you want to give back more to the community around you. And if you’re like all those same people, you’re challenged by time, choices, and not knowing where to start. I have good news — you’ve already started! The secret to doing more good is to do more of what you love.

I love riding my bike, cross-stitching, hosting events, doodling, graphic design, friendly competition, watching TV and being a weirdo. I’ve paired a charitable cause with every single one of those interests to raise money for issues I’m passionate about. ESPECIALLY being a weirdo.

The best part? I had a blast doing it and my friends and family couldn’t wait to get involved.

Most recently, I brought my love of layering charitable components onto stuff I already love to my new home in Orlando, where I hosted the first annual Jesstivus: a cornhole tournament to celebrate my birthday and raise money for charity. In total, our 24-team tournament raised over $2,300 and I can’t wait to double it next year.

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Here’s a few other ways I’ve made some money for charity using one or a few of my interests: → Facebook Live Plank Challenge: I planked for 1 second for every $5 donated. → Squats and Compliments: I did a squat and gave a compliment to everyone who donated $5 on Facebook Live. → Cross stitch raffle on Instagram stories: selling things for charity is great but selling raffle tickets earns more money per piece. → Pep Talks from Art: I sold custom pep talk videos from my dad (the King of Pep Talks) in exchange for donations. People loved them and he had a blast recording them! → Thankful :30 Podcast: An audio mashup of people recording what they’re thankful for during the pandemic. Admittedly, this one takes a little audio editing chops, but use the special skills YOU have to make something only you can do.

“Most recently, I brought my love of layering charitable components onto stuff I already love to my new home in Orlando, where I hosted the first annual Jesstivus.”

J E S S H A N E B U RY D ’A M I C O

8 Easy Tips For Getting Started: Good-causify the things you already love.

What are you good at and what do you love to do?

No matter if it’s walking dogs, organizing closets, babysitting, writing songs, knitting, mowing lawns, cutting hair, or watching reality tv, there’s a way to use it to raise money for your favorite charity.

Take advantage of traditions and gatherings you already take part in.

Build charitable components into birthdays, award-show viewing parties and holiday gift exchanges. Since Jesstivus was built around my birthday, I can build momentum off the first event and set expectations to do it every year!

Don’t over complicate it.

Use existing tools and materials.

Make it fun!

Fundraising doesn’t have to be serious business.

While many of the causes we raise money for are undoubtedly some very serious issues, raising money for those causes can be a very fun, positive experience. When people start looking forward to your next fundraiser and can’t wait to crack open their wallets you know you’re on the right track.

Make it your go-to.

Your friend demands to pay you for letting their dog out last minute even though you were happy to help and don’t expect payment? Tell them to donate to their favorite charity instead. Everybody wins!

I use Google forms for sign-ups and award-show prediction ballots. The Facebook Fundraiser functionality is super easy to set up and reaches a lot of people without requiring you to gather a bunch email addresses. For Jesstivus, we used existing cornhole sets we were gifted for our wedding, and I used random items in the garage to make a kid’s obstacle course activity.

Get local organizations involved.

Go remote or IRL!

Let people help.

If your event is in person, make sure there’s a way for out-of-towners to get involved. Let folks donate to sponsor a team, pitch in for snacks or come up with one of the challenges or contests. For Jesstivus, friends from out of town donated to sponsor teams’ “buy-backs” — meaning their donations allowed in-person teams back in at no cost to fill in the remaining spots on the bracket.

Check for matching opportunities with your company or other organization. See if the local pizza place wants to donate or discount a bulk order. For Jesstivus, Yuengling gave us 10 cases of beer once we explained what we were doing. You don’t have to be a big event for brands to want to pitch in.

The above brings me to my next point: LET PEOPLE HELP. Doing good is contagious. Share the good-vibes wealth by saying “YES” when someone asks if they can chip in on the planning. It’s easy to feel like since it was your idea, you don’t want to burden anyone else. But if someone asks, that means they are inspired by what you’re doing. They see how it makes you feel and they want in!

The Takeaway.

The ways we give back don’t have to be huge to matter to organizations we help and to make us feel fulfilled.

While finding more time in the day to dig into some of this may still seem insurmountable, I promise once you start and you feel that first rush of adrenaline from helping in a way only you can, you’ll find that your schedule magically opens up for the next opportunity to creatively pitch in.

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Is It Time For A Tune-Up? June Is Men’s Health Month

When was the last time you had a tune-up? Not for your vehicle — for your most continuous source of transportation: your body. June is Men’s Health Month, designated so to highlight that historically most men avoid going to the doctor.

A national survey by the Cleveland Clinic found 72% of men would rather do household chores, like cleaning the bathroom or mowing the lawn, than go to the doctor. According to the survey, 65% of men prefer to try to self-diagnose before going to the doctor which may explain the reason life expectancy for men is at least five years less than it is for women.

One reason women live longer is they are more apt to follow through with preventive

screenings, which find issues when they are just beginning. Much like taking your car in for routine checking oil and coolant levels help avoid more severe issues, monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol can help prevent significant heart disease from developing. The CDC reports women are 33% more likely to go to the doctor than men and 100% better at maintaining screenings and preventive care.

Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. ©2022 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc., DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved.

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Medical Checklist

→ Diabetes: Starting at age 45, healthy men should begin diabetes screenings every three years using a fasting blood sugar test, glucose tolerance test or an AIC. For individuals with high cholesterol or blood pressure, testing might begin even earlier.

→ Prostate Exam: Annual screenings should begin at age 40 for men with a first degree relative who had prostate or breast cancer, African American men with no other risk factors should start screening at 45 and 50 for all men.

→ Colorectal cancer: Men have a slightly higher risk of developing colon or rectal cancer than women, but screenings help find it in the early stages when treatment is most effective. According to the CDC about nine out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancers are found early and treated appropriately are still alive five years later.

→ Skin Cancer: Men are three times more likely to get non-melanoma basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers than women, and older men are more likely than women of the same age to develop the deadly melanoma skin cancer.

→ Glaucoma: Men over the age of 65 should be tested every 6-12 months. Glaucoma is treated with eye drops, oral medicine, or surgery (or a combination of treatments) to reduce pressure in the eye and prevent permanent vision loss.

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→ Testicular cancer: The American Cancer Society recommends all men have a testicular exam when they see a doctor for a routine physical. If you have a family history of testicular cancer or an undescended testicle, additional screenings might be needed.

Photo by PixelsEffect via Getty Images

A men’s preventive health appointment is typically fully covered by insurance, and important because it can reduce the risk of future illness, especially by identifying health problems without obvious symptoms. In addition to blood pressure and cholesterol, what screenings and tests should men 50 and over have?

Removing the Stigma

It might be easy to chalk up men’s resistance to the medical profession to shear stubbornness, but there’s also a cultural bias to consider and to work to ending. Over 40% of men say there were taught as children not to complain about health issues. Culturally men are told to be tough and self-sufficient, while needing assistance is seen as weak and not “manly.” Additional reasons men give include not wanting to be judged, as well as feelings of shame and uncomfortableness.

Fear is also a factor. A common excuse that men use for not going to the doctor is they are afraid of finding out something is wrong with them, or that they’ll be required to make significant diet and lifestyle changes.

For the love of family

What does motivate men to take better care of themselves? The Cleveland Clinic survey did find 82% of men do try to stay healthy to live longer for friends and family who rely on them. And apparently persistent requests do work: 19% admitted they go to the doctor to get their significant other or loved one to stop nagging them.

82% of men do try to stay healthy to live longer for friends and family who rely on them.

At the doctor’s office

Once you’re at the doctor, it’s important to be honest. Changes in diet or lifestyle or a diagnosis may be scary, but knowledge is power. Like in a car, your tire pressure gauge may be faulty, or you could have a leaky tire. It’s important to know the difference. An honest conversation creates a relationship, opens the channels of communication, and could lead to more options that fit your lifestyle. Additionally, regular visits ensure access to the newest developments in medical research and treatments.

The bottom line…

When it comes to your body, there’s not a new model coming out next year. Invest in the one you have and maintain the one you have, to ensure safe travels throughout your life.

Are you ready to take charge of your health?

You don’t need to be a member to talk with one of our Florida Blue nurses. They can help you make a plan to improve your health and answer your health questions. Find your neighborhood Florida Blue Center at FloridaBlue.com or call 1-877-352-5830.

Now’s the time to prioritize your health. Remember, you’re worth it.

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64& MEDICARE

Make Medicare an opportunity to live BOLDER.

SO MUCH MORE!

Go to growingbolder.com/Medicare to download your free, easy to understand guide to Medicare.

To speak to a representative call 1-844-396-2579.

Florida Blue and Florida Blue Medicare are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ©️2022 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. DBA Florida Blue. All rights reserved.

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